I just viewed an interesting YouTube:  How brake adjusters work for Vanagon Rear Drum Brakes

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How brake adjusters work for Vanagon Re...
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The author is saying that to adjust rear drum brakes, the method is to put car in Reverse and pull up on the handbrake until you stop.  Do it a couple times.  This, if needed, causes the "ratchet gear" to move up a notch or so, effectively providing the adjustment.  Interesting....

I am "super easy" on my brakes on all vehicles; I anticipate the road ahead; my brakes generally last double of expected mileage, at least.  I can't remember the last time I had brake service, but they are all working just fine; good stopping power, no veering.  But with almost 300K on chassis, I think it might be reasonable to assume that some things have stretched or worn a little.  The thread on the e-brake rod is a 1.0 mm pitch.  Thus, one turn should tighten things by .040 inch.  My gut feeling is that if I try one turn or so, I won't mess things up too badly and may solve my issue.

    On Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 12:38:22 PM PDT, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:  
 
  My '85 has the smooth cylindrical metal handle, no finger grips; also, it =
has a molded elastomer boot with corrugations. (I've seen pictures of later=
 model setups....no, that is not mine.)

    On Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 12:28:30 PM PDT, Mark Drillock <madvws=
@cox.net> wrote: =20
=20
 When everything is in good shape with the rear brakes no periodic=20
adjustment of the hand brake should be needed.

Which parking brake lever/handle do you have?

During the 85 model year a much improved one was phased in.

The 85+ later one has a hand grip piece molded for fingers.

That is just an easy way to identify the later version, the other=20
improvements it offers are more significant.

Mark

On 8/31/2022 12:15 PM, Richard Koerner wrote:
> I am getting ready for a 2,500 mile Vanagon trek from San Diego to Northe=
rn Oregon and back.=C2=A0 (Tintop, '85, manual, stock brakes, 292K miles). =
My parking brake seems to need adjustment.=C2=A0 Crawling under, of course =
I see the yoke with a solid rod from parking brake lever, and then diverges=
 to two solid rods which go to rear drum brakes.=C2=A0 Yes....I see adjusti=
ng nut and threads....they are all rust free.=C2=A0 I investigated The Samb=
a.=C2=A0 But am still unclear.=C2=A0 Do I just move the adjusting nut a few=
 threads?=C2=A0 Or does the "magic" happen inside of the Rear brake drums?=
=C2=A0 I am scheduled to do all 4 wheel brake job with new everything (but =
keeping everything stock, no Big Brake stuff); my mechanic (even though he =
has all the parts in boxes in his shop) has been under the weather lately a=
nd rebuild might be a few months away; of course he would do a premier inst=
all and adjustment of all components in system.=C2=A0 But in the meantime, =
I'd like to get things adjusted properly; as it is, it takes a full 4 click=
s on lever to make things happen, and they don't feel that strong (will avo=
id parking in San Francisco)...just barely works on a slope of any degree.
 =20